UK will not participate in EU migrant rescue mission

The United Kingdom will not participate in the European Union's planned search and rescue operation for migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

Joyce Anelay, the UK's minister for the foreign office, informed the British Parliament in a written statement that the UK would not be participating in the operation, called Operation Triton, because the mission might encourage more migrants to attempt the crossing. The operation is being co-ordinated by Frontex, the EU’s border-management agency.

The mission is meant to help Italy in particular and will complement its Mare Nostrum mission.

The statement was submitted to the Parliament earlier this month but was revealed by the British press yesterday (28 October). Anelay wrote that it would create an "unintended pull factor" for potential migrants. She said the government believes that it would be better to focus attention on countries of origin and transit, and to stop people smugglers.

Human rights organisations have criticised the UK's refusal to participate in the mission.